Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 1, submitting for study and consideration the nomination
of:

Intermediate Court
of Appeals, Associate Judge, KATHERINE G. LEONARD

G.M. No. 1

Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the
Intermediate Court of Appeals, Associate Judge, KATHERINE G. LEONARD, Gubernatorial Nominee, for a term of
ten years,

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the background information submitted by
the nominee, Katherine G. Leonard, your Committee finds that Ms. Leonard
is currently an attorney with the law firm of Carlsmith Ball, LLP, and has been
with the firm since 1992.

While with Carlsmith Ball, LLP, Ms. Leonard's practice
has included working on issues and matters related to the termination of the
Damon Estate and the Campbell Estate. She has also represented banks and other
lenders in commercial loan matters and some defense matters.

Prior to joining Carlsmith Ball, LLP, Ms. Leonard was a
law clerk at the First Circuit Court for six months and a law clerk with the Hawaii
Supreme Court for six months.

Ms. Leonard is a graduate of the William S. Richardson
School of Law at the University of Hawaii where she served as the
Editor-in-Chief of the law school's law review and received numerous awards and
accolades.

Before attending law school, Ms. Leonard, who received her
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Parkside, with
degrees in biology and chemistry, worked for HR Nursery in Waimanalo, helping
to clone orchids.

Testimony in support of the nomination of Ms. Leonard
was submitted by the Attorney General; the Hawai‘i
Women Lawyers; the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; the ILWU, Local 142; and
eighty-five individuals, many of whom are affiliated with the Carlsmith Ball
firm.

The Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) found Ms.
Leonard to be qualified for the position of an Associate Judge on the
Intermediate Court of Appeals. Seven members of the Board of the HSBA voted that
Ms. Leonard was highly qualified; eight voted that she was qualified; and two
voted that she was not qualified.

Your Committee finds that the testimony submitted was
all in support of Ms. Leonard's nomination to the Intermediate Court of
Appeals. Many testifiers supported Ms. Leonard for her intellect, hard work,
and dedication and testified that the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the
people of the State of Hawaii would benefit greatly from Ms. Leonard being
placed on the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Your Committee notes it does have concerns with Ms.
Leonard's lack of judicial experience. Your Committee believes that it is not
unreasonable for the Senate to want to see the Governor choose an Intermediate
Court of Appeals nominee with judicial experience. While judicial experience
is not a requirement, your Committee finds that it is still a significant
factor because none of the current members of the Intermediate Court of Appeals
had previous judicial experience and a nominee with suitable and varied
judicial experience would provide a broader perspective to the Intermediate
Court of Appeals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of
your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your
Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications
of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which
nominated and recommends that the Senate consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf
of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,